Madonna and Guy's show of unity at family day out at Kabbalah centre

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have hit back at reports their marriage is in terminal decline with a family outing to the Kaballah Centre in New York.

In a show of unity, the embattled couple took their children Lourdes, 11, Rocco, seven, and David, two, to a service at the centre on Saturday afternoon.

The very public visit comes as Madonna last week took the unusual step of instructing her American publicist to deny rumours her seven-year marriage is on the brink of collapse.

Madonna & Guy Ritchie arrive at the Kabbalah Centre in New York amid reports their marriage is in trouble

Madonna & Guy Ritchie arrive at the Kabbalah Centre in New York amid reports their marriage is in trouble

The denial followed mounting reports Madonna had been playing host to late night visits from New York Yankee player Alex Rodriguez.

In a statement - released exclusively to American magazine People - she said: "My husband and I are not planning on getting a divorce. I know Alex Rodriguez through Guy Oseary, who manages both of us.

"I brought my kids to a Yankee game. "I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study."

She added: "I have learned over the years not to take accusations and the many false reports about me very seriously. I also appreciate how fiction and fact seem to be perceived as one and the same by people who read both newspapers and the Internet."

Her decision to speak out was made amid rumours she handed over her £12million country mansion to filmmaker Ritchie in a sign the pair are planning separate futures.

Madonna, 49, bought the 1,200-acre estate in Wiltshire for £8million in 2001 and wanted to sell it earlier this year.

A father's love: Guy Ritchie tenderly holds adopted son David Banda during a visit to New York's Kaballah Centre

A father's love: Guy Ritchie tenderly holds adopted son David Banda during a visit to New York's Kaballah Centre